New Release: THE GREATEST THING

It’s the first day of sophomore year, and now that Winifred’s two best (and only) friends have transferred to a private school, she must navigate high school on her own.

But she isn’t alone for long. In art class, she meets two offbeat students, Oscar and April. The three bond through clandestine sleepovers, thrift store shopping, and zine publishing. Winifred is finally breaking out of her shell, but there’s one secret she can’t bear to admit to April and Oscar, or even to herself―and this lie is threatening to destroy her newfound friendships.

With breathtaking art and honest storytelling, rising star Sarah Winifred Searle delivers a heartfelt story about love, friendship, and self-acceptance.

Select praise for THE GREATEST THING:

• "Raw and beautiful. A story that finds the tiny holes in your heart, tears them wide open, and puts in hope. Searle's art and mastery of the medium shines. I wish I had this book as a teen." — Colleen AF Venable, author of Kiss Number 8

• "Sarah Winifred Searle's comics look the way I wish the world did. She combines raw emotions with gorgeous artwork to create stories full of feeling, intention, and heart. Give this book to the teens in your life." —Tillie Walden, author of Spinning and Are You Listening?

• Girl’s Life review: “This graphic novel will give you serious feels... You'll cry, laugh, and smile through this slice-of-life read.”

• Kirkus review: “A poignant, honest, and deeply engaging work.”

THE GREATEST THING by Sarah Winifred Searle (First Second Books, Feb 2022)

• Booklist review: “In her crisp, precise art, Searle deftly depicts the emotions of her characters, largely through their expressive body language; Winifred’s slumped shoulders as she curls into herself are easily worth a thousand words... this is a sensitive, compassionate portrayal of teenage mental health struggles that emphasizes the importance of community, self-acceptance, and finding the courage to ask for help.”

• Publishers Weekly review: "Searle’s semi-autobiographical graphic novel covers teen relationships, mental health... and disordered eating with crackling specificity...a visually and emotionally satisfying read about escaping depression and loneliness through art-making."

• School Library Journal review:"...a lovely graphic novel that takes an honest look at how easy it is for teenagers to get lost in despair...This sensitive read is a must-have on library shelves."

New Release: WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE? JOAN OF ARC

WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE? JOAN OF ARC
written by Sarah Winifred Searle and illustrated by Maria Capelle Frantz
(Penguin Workshop, Jan 2022)

Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting new addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series!

Follow Joan of Arc on her journey to convince the Dauphin to let her lead the French army in the Battle of Orleans and win the Hundred Years' War. A story of faith, courage, and determination, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves in the life of the teenage French heroine -- brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that jump off the page.

Select praise for WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE?

• Booklist review: "Joan of Arc’s faith and determination shine through in WHO WAS THE GIRL WARRIOR OF FRANCE?, which gives readers background on the Hundred Years War and shows Joan of Arc’s challenging journey to help end it. All the [Who HQ Graphic Novels] showcase the passions and urgency or risks behind their headline-making events and humanize the people who made them possible."

New Release: GRAVENEYE

GRAVENEYE, written by Sloane Leong, illustrated by Anna Bowles
(TKO Studios, Nov 2021)

What if a haunted house was not the horror, but the people who dwell within it?

Isla lives alone in a large mansion deep in the woods. She has hired the young Marie to help her keep the big house tidy, but Marie brings demons of her own into Isla's domain.

Her house has seen its share of blood, horror, and the depths of the human soul. Cursed with sentience, it is destined to observe the terrors that lurk inside each and every one of us.

Select praise for GRAVENEYE:

• "GRAVENEYE is a lush, bloody, gothic feast. A kaleidoscopic mix of desire, hunger and revenge. Home is where the transformed heart is." — Paul Tremblay, multiple award-winning author of the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts.

• Comics Beat review: “Leong and Bowles have crafted an unforgettable piece of horror fiction that easily stands as one of the best of the year. Like the mansion in the story, Graveneye offers readers multiple doorways into its narrative. They each carry a forbidden sense of danger to them, as if you were intruding on a life that’s excruciatingly private. And yet, the invitation to intrude is there, and you should.”

New Release: THE SHORT WHILE

THE SHORT WHILE by Jeremy Sorese (Archaia, Nov 2021)

After a party, two men accidentally swap their jackets and are thrust into a most opportune meeting.

In each other they find what they’ve been missing. Love. Companionship. Trust. Honesty. Vulnerability. And they find everything they feared. Tragedy. Loss. Loss of self. Loss of freedom. Loss of each other.

Acclaimed cartoonist Jeremy Sorese presents a tragic but redemptive love story about two men who meet, quickly fall in love, and then find themselves falling apart when an unexpected event changes both their lives forever.

Select praise for THE SHORT WHILE:

• “THE SHORT WHILE is a thrilling triumph that poignantly conveys how queer people experience trauma and how new events can cause eruptions that heal old wounds. It is a spiritually transformative sci-fi thriller that proves Sorese's artistry is boundless.” — Sasha Velour

• Publishers Weekly review: “…A bravely messy story about dealing with trauma, on a personal and a societal level, and searching for happiness in an imperfect world.”

New Release: INVESTIGATORS: ANTS IN OUR P.A.N.T.S.

INVESTIGATORS: ANTS IN OUR P.A.N.T.S. by John Patrick Green
(First Second Books, Sept 2021)

The InvestiGators’ new mission has our sewer-loving secret agents bugging out in InvestiGators: Ants in Our P.A.N.T.S, the latest chapter in the hilarious adventure series from John Patrick Green.

With agent Brash trapped in a mysterious coma, the technicians at S.U.I.T. have designed the ultimate replacement: RoboBrash! This high-tech replica has been programmed with all of the original Brash’s crime-fighting skills and knowhow―but it seems he’s got a few bugs in his system! Will Mango and his new partner be enough to stop the giant ants that are on a rampage in the city? Orchestrated by the spaced-out villain, Maestronaut, and Houdino, the dinosaur escape artist, it seems criminals are certainly upping the ANT-y!

Praise for the series:

• “Ridiculous, absurd, and completely delightful – that’s my five-word review of the first InvestiGators book. I don’t know of any better book to hand to a fan of Dav Pilkey.” —Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes (exclusive excerpt)

• "…a very entertaining read. The fast-paced tale of a missing baker, a helicopter turned "were-copter," and a vat of radioactive cracker dough has heaping helpings of surreal alligator action and wordplay gags to keep new readers bent on solving the mystery. And the sharp illustration line, color and movement really pop." —Jon Scieszka, The New York Times Book Review

New Release: THE GIRL FROM THE SEA

THE GIRL FROM THE SEA by Molly Knox Ostertag
(Scholastic, June 2021)

Fifteen-year-old Morgan has a secret: She can't wait to escape the perfect little island where she lives.

She's desperate to finish high school and escape her sad, divorced mom, her volatile little brother, and worst of all, her great group of friends...who don't understand Morgan at all. Because really, Morgan's biggest secret is that she has a lot of secrets, including the one about wanting to kiss another girl.

Then one night, Morgan is saved from drowning by a mysterious girl named Keltie. The two become friends and suddenly life on the island doesn't seem so stifling anymore.But Keltie has some secrets of her own. And as the girls start to fall in love, everything they're each trying to hide will find its way to the surface...whether Morgan is ready or not.

Select praise for THE GIRL FROM THE SEA:

• Kirkus review: “Selkie lore is enchantingly interwoven in this light fantasy tale… the romance is charming and tender. Sweet, fun, Sapphic fluff.”

• Publishers Weekly starred review: “This endearing and often funny graphic novel cohesively combines queer teen romance, realism, and fantasy.”

• School Library Journal starred review: “Adorable and authentic, this coming-out story is a must-purchase”

New Release: INVESTIGATORS: OFF THE HOOK

INVESTIGATORS: OFF THE HOOK by John Patrick Green
(First Second Books, Feb 2021)

InvestiGators Mango and Brash don their fanciest vests for INVESTIGATORS: OFF THE HOOK, the next mystery in the hilarious adventure series from John Patrick Green.

Sewer-loving secret agents Mango and Brash fight for the GATOR good in this zany adventure that will have readers HOOKED!

The InvestiGators are the best crime-fighting duo in the world. But not even their hi-tech training programs can prepare them for the return of their greatest nemesis, Crackerdile, in a shocking new form! Even worse, he’s creating a team of super villains! Faced with the choice between saving themselves or catching the crooks, can Mango and Brash make sure the gator good prevails?

Praise for the series:

• “Ridiculous, absurd, and completely delightful – that’s my five-word review of the first InvestiGators book. I don’t know of any better book to hand to a fan of Dav Pilkey.” —Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes (exclusive excerpt)

• "…a very entertaining read. The fast-paced tale of a missing baker, a helicopter turned "were-copter," and a vat of radioactive cracker dough has heaping helpings of surreal alligator action and wordplay gags to keep new readers bent on solving the mystery. And the sharp illustration line, color and movement really pop." —Jon Scieszka, The New York Times Book Review

New Release: INVESTIGATORS: TAKE THE PLUNGE

INVESTIGATORS: TAKE THE PLUNGE by John Patrick Green
(First Second Books, Sept 2020)

Sewer-loving secret agents Mango and Brash are plunged into a new mystery―and a BIG mess―in INVESTIGATORS: TAKE THE PLUNGE.

S.U.I.T. headquarters is under attack, and Mango and Brash are going undercover and underground disguised as city sewer workers to unclog a sticky situation. But when their search for the criminal Crackerdile backfires, the toilets they travel through back up―and the InvestiGators take the blame for it!

Can Mango and Brash restore their good name and put the real culprit behind bars before the whole city is in deep water?

Select praise for INVESTIGATORS: TAKE THE PLUNGE:

• Kirkus review: “Young readers who like their humor dialed up to the max should feel right at home here with breezy bathroom humor, chuckle-causing wordplay (puns and goofy acronyms abound), and snort-inducing names… a surefire crowd pleaser.”

Praise for the series:

• “Ridiculous, absurd, and completely delightful – that’s my five-word review of the first InvestiGators book. I don’t know of any better book to hand to a fan of Dav Pilkey.” —Travis Jonker, 100 Scope Notes (exclusive excerpt)

• "…a very entertaining read. The fast-paced tale of a missing baker, a helicopter turned "were-copter," and a vat of radioactive cracker dough has heaping helpings of surreal alligator action and wordplay gags to keep new readers bent on solving the mystery. And the sharp illustration line, color and movement really pop." —Jon Scieszka, The New York Times Book Review

New Release: SÉANCE TEA PARTY

SÉANCE TEA PARTY by Reimena Yee (Random House Graphic, September 2020)

Growing up sounds terrible.

No one has time to do anything fun, or play outside, or use their imagination. Everything is suddenly so serious. People are more interested in their looks and what others think about them than having fun adventures. Who wants that? Not Lora.

After watching her circle of friends seemingly fade away, Lora is determined to still have fun on her own. A tea party with a twist leaves Lora to re-discovering Alexa, the ghost that haunts her house — and Lora’s old imaginary friend! Lora and Alexa are thrilled to meet kindred spirits and they become best friends . . . but unfortunately, not everything can last forever.

Select praise for SÉANCE TEA PARTY:

• Booklist review: “Yee’s art is loose and bright, and the colors are vibrant, bringing a diverse cast to life. An empathetic look at a late bloomer.”

• Kirkus review: “While this is Yee’s middle-grade debut, she is a veteran of comic books, and it shows. She artfully balances complex character arcs and suspense while bringing a touch of fantasy and wonder… A coming-of-age tale that is both comforting and wonderfully peculiar.”

• School Library Journal review: “A beautifully illustrated, bittersweet coming-of-age story for anyone grappling with the joy and sorrow of growing up, growing old, and moving on.”

• The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books starred review: “A perfect choice for young readers… Alexa and Lora show that nothing you love is ever truly gone and growing up can be a blessing.”

New Release: THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING

THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING by Natalie Andrewson (First Second Books, September 2020)

Natalie Andrewson brings E.T.A. Hoffmann’s surreal and fantastical story to life like never before in this vibrant graphic novel adaptation of the beloved Christmas classic.

Of all the gifts under the tree on Christmas Eve, only one captures Marie Stahlbaum’s heart: a humble nutcracker. He’s a curious little man, with kind eyes, sweet red cheeks, and a friendly appearance. And as midnight nears, he comes to life, revealing a fairy-tale world of magic and wonder, wicked princesses and fierce battles . . . and an ancient curse that can only be broken with the help of a true friend.

With the evil Mouse King looming and her dream world threatened, Marie will have to find the strength to stand up for her nutcracker―no matter what it takes.

Select praise for THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING:

• Kirkus review: Andrewson makes smart choices with her adaptation, refocusing the story on passionate and empathetic Marie... Her distinctive illustration style is well matched to Hoffmann’s story, with vivid colors, wavy linework, and exaggerated facial expressions that all reinforce the trippy, unsettling plot.

• Publishers Weekly review: A captivating, otherworldly adaptation for old fans and new.

New Release: THE CONTRADICTIONS

THE CONTRADICTIONS by Sophie Yanow (Drawn & Quarterly, September 2020)

Sophie is young and queer and into feminist theory.

She decides to study abroad, choosing Paris for no firm reason beyond liking French comics. Feeling a bit lonely and out of place, she’s desperate for community and a sense of belonging. She stumbles into what/who she’s looking for when she meets Zena.

An anarchist student-activist committed to veganism and shoplifting, Zena offers Sophie a whole new political ideology that feels electric. Enamored―of Zena, of the idea of living more righteously―Sophie finds herself swept up in a whirlwind friendship that blows her even further from her rural California roots as they embark on a disastrous hitchhiking trip to Amsterdam and Berlin, full of couch surfing, drug tripping, and radical book fairs.

Select praise for THE CONTRADICTIONS:

• 2019 Eisner Award winner for best webcomic

• Publishers Weekly starred review: “Appealing both to indie comics fans on the cusp of coming-of-age to those looking back decades to their own youthful follies, this assured, smart chronicle is a winner.”

• "The Contradictions is a masterpiece. Sophie Yanow’s tale of hitchhiking around Europe under the spell of a sulky, fixie-riding anarchist is a pitch-perfect portrait of youthful disillusionment and self-discovery. Yanow’s impeccable ligne claire drawing seems to mathematically cancel out everything nonessential in her panels, and the effect is surprisingly, even transcendently, emotional." - Alison Bechdel, author of Fun Home

New Release: A MAP TO THE SUN

A MAP TO THE SUN by Sloane Leong (First Second, August 2020)

One summer day, Ren meets Luna at a beachside basketball court and a friendship is born. But when Luna moves to back to Oahu, Ren’s messages to her friend go unanswered.

Years go by. Then Luna returns, hoping to rekindle their friendship. Ren is hesitant. She's dealing with a lot, including family troubles, dropping grades, and the newly formed women's basketball team at their high school.

With Ren’s new friends and Luna all on the basketball team, the lines between their lives on and off the court begin to blur. During their first season, this diverse and endearing group of teens are challenged in ways that make them reevaluate just who and how they trust.

Select praise for A MAP TO THE SUN:

• School Library Journal review: “…an intricate exploration of camaraderie, teamwork, friendship, and expression with a BIPOC cast of characters. The color work is gorgeous, with dreamy greens, purples, and yellows setting a breathtaking, surreal backdrop….this tale shines.”

• Publishers Weekly review: “Leong elevates the classic ragtag-sports-team narrative by giving her characters grit and gravitas, and rendering their world of malls, convenience stores, and slumping apartment buildings in brilliant reds and purples.”

New Release: INVESTIGATORS

INVESTIGATORS by John Patrick Green (First Second, February 2020)

Mango and Brash are the INVESTIGATORS: sewer-loving agents of S.U.I.T. (Special Undercover Investigation Teams) and scourge of supervillains everywhere!

With their Very Exciting Spy Technology and their tried-and-true, toilet-based travel techniques, the InvestiGators are undercover and on the case! And on their first mission together, they have not one but two mysteries to solve! Can Mango and Brash uncover the clues, crack their cases, and corral the crooks―or will the criminals wriggle out of their grasp?

Select praise for INVESTIGATORS:

• New York Times review: "...has heaping helpings of surreal alligator action and wordplay gags to keep new readers bent on solving the mystery."

• Kirkus review: "With its rampant good-natured goofiness and its unrelenting fizz and pep, this feels like a sugar rush manifested as a graphic novel. Silly and inventive fast-paced fun."

• Publishers Weekly review: "In high-intensity colors, straightforward panel artwork by Green (Hippopot­a­mister) offers plenty of slapstick gags to Brash and Mango’s tale. Fast-paced fun for the bad pun and dorky joke crowd."

• School Library Journal review: "Like the heroes of Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man or Captain Underpants, the InvestiGators are bound to resonate with kids."

New Release: THE MIDWINTER WITCH

THE MIDWINTER WITCH by Molly Knox Ostertag
(Scholastic, November 2019)

Magic has a dark side…

Aster always looks forward to the Midwinter Festival, a reunion of the entire Vanissen family that includes competitions in witchery and shapeshifting. This year, he's especially excited to compete in the annual Jolrun tournament - as a witch. He's determined to show everyone that he's proud of who he is and what he's learned, but he knows it won't be easy to defy tradition.

Ariel has darker things on her mind than the Festival - like the mysterious witch who's been visiting her dreams, claiming to know the truth about Ariel's past. She appreciates everything the Vanissens have done for her. But Ariel still craves a place where she truly belongs.

The Festival is a whirlwind of excitement and activity, but for Aster and Ariel, nothing goes according to plan. When a powerful and sinister force invades the reunion, threatening to destroy everything the young witches have fought for, can they find the courage to fight it together? Or will dark magic tear them apart?

Select praise for THE MIDWINTER WITCH:

• Booklist starred review: "The craftwork is on- point...with smooth pacing, endearing characters, gripping plots, and clean, colorful, expressive artwork."

• Kirkus review: "This solid addition to the series should please fans and newcomers alike."

• School Library Journal review: "A heartwarming, wintry adventure."

New Release: KITTEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY - A BRIDGE TOO FUR

In John Patrick Green's Kitten Construction Company: A Bridge Too Fur the feline builders return, this time, with dogs! Construction has never been cuter than in this graphic novel for very young readers!

Marmalade and her crew of construction kittens are in high demand!

Their latest assignment (and biggest job yet) is to build the new Mewburg bridge. But with the bridge comes the one thing that cats hate most of all—water! As the team struggles to face their fears and do their jobs, they are forced to get help from some unlikely allies. . . slobbery, car-chasing DOGS.

Select praise for A BRIDGE TOO FUR:

Kirkus review: "Green's second tale of feline fabricators works just as well as the first... Instructive and fun, this will have fans mewing for more."

Booklist review: "Continuing his playful premise, Green delivers another gentle, hilarious tale rife with the kind of interspecies competition that both cat- and dog-lovers will revel in, though the real winners here are the punsters, who will gorge on a veritable feast of wordplay."

KITTEN CONSTRUCTION COMPANY: A BRIDGE TOO FUR by John Patrick Green (First Second, October 2019)

New Release: BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER - THE CURSED COVEN

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: THE CURSED COVEN by Casey Nowak (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, September 2019)

The second installment in the original and action-packed Buffy the Vampire series that features Buffy Summers as a middle schooler! Told through comics, journal entries, class notes, doodles, text messages, and other in-world artifacts, this series is perfect for fans of Star Wars: Jedi Academy and DC Comics’s Secret Hero Society.

It’s finally summer vacation, but Buffy Summers isn’t getting a break from vampire slaying…or from school. While Cleveland teens are going missing and Serafina is growing closer with her older sister’s witchy coven, Buffy is stuck splitting her time between classes during the day and patrolling for all kinds of demons and dark creatures at night. Buffy feels crushed! Not only is she missing all the summer fun she dreamed of, but her friendships are a hot mess. Little does Buffy know, things are going to get worse. A new, dangerous foe who threatens to ruin her summer and all of Cleveland is on the horizon.

With tempers flaring and the heat rising, Buffy needs to figure out how to balance homework, monsters, witches, and frenemies before it’s too late.

New release: STAGE DREAMS

STAGE DREAMS by Melanie Gillman
(Lerner Graphic Universe, Sept 2019)

In this rollicking queer western adventure, acclaimed cartoonist Melanie Gillman puts readers in the saddle alongside Flor and Grace, a Latinx outlaw and a trans runaway, as they team up to thwart a Confederate plot in the New Mexico Territory.

When Flor—also known as the notorious Ghost Hawk—robs the stagecoach that Grace has used to escape her Georgia home, the first thing on her mind is ransom. But when the two get to talking about Flor’s plan to crash a Confederate gala and steal some crucial documents, Grace convinces Flor to let her join the heist.

Select praise for STAGE DREAMS:

• School Library Journal starred review: “This charming and poignant queer romance set against a Civil War–era backdrop will resonate with readers.”

• Kirkus review: “An engrossing escapade with a heart-stealing queer romance.”

• Booklist review: “An illuminating western with a refreshingly matter-of-fact queer romance.”

New Release: CURSED

CURSED by Karol Ruth Silverstein (Charlesbridge Teen, June 2019)

A debut novel for fans of The Fault in Our Stars that thoughtfully and humorously depicts teen Ricky Bloom’s struggles with a recent chronic illness diagnosis.

As if her parents’ divorce and sister’s departure for college weren’t bad enough, fourteen-year-old Ricky Bloom has just been diagnosed with a life-changing chronic illness. Her days consist of cursing everyone out, skipping school–which has become a nightmare–daydreaming about her crush, Julio, and trying to keep her parents from realizing just how bad things are. But she can’t keep her ruse up forever.

Ricky’s afraid, angry, alone, and one suspension away from repeating ninth grade when she realizes: she can’t be held back. She’ll do whatever it takes to move forward–even if it means changing the person she’s become. Lured out of her funk by a quirky classmate, Oliver, who’s been there too, Ricky’s porcupine exterior begins to shed some spines. Maybe asking for help isn’t the worst thing in the world. Maybe accepting circumstances doesn’t mean giving up.

Select praise for CURSED:

• Booklist review: "A blistering coming-of-age tale that will propel readers into Ricky’s corner."

• Kirkus review: “Ricky’s sharp, flowing, uninhibited voice makes this a page-turner… Protagonists with chronic nonmalignant pain and illness are far too rare.”

• Publishers Weekly review: "Silverstein, who was diagnosed with arthritis as a teen, excels at evoking the physical and emotional pain Ricky endures without having Ricky’s condition define her. She emerges as a likable, relatable heroine whose wit and sense of hope will prove inspiring."

• School Library Journal review: "Readers will enjoy this contemporary coming-of-age story featuring a resilient protagonist and charming plot."

New Release: THIS WAS OUR PACT

THIS WAS OUR PACT by Ryan Andrews (First Second, June 2019)

It's the night of the annual Autumn Equinox Festival, when the town gathers to float paper lanterns down the river.

Legend has it that after drifting out of sight, they'll soar off to the Milky Way and turn into brilliant stars, but could that actually be true? This year, Ben and his classmates are determined to find out where those lanterns really go, and to ensure success in their mission, they've made a pact with two simple rules: No one turns for home. No one looks back.

The plan is to follow the river on their bikes for as long as it takes to learn the truth, but it isn't long before the pact is broken by all except for Ben and (much to Ben's disappointment) Nathaniel, the one kid who just doesn't seem to fit in.

Together, Nathaniel and Ben will travel farther than anyone has ever gone, down a winding road full of magic, wonder, and unexpected friendship*.

*And a talking bear.

Select praise for THIS WAS OUR PACT:

• Booklist starred review: "Richly imagined and complexly emotional... [This was Our Pact] may owe some of its eerie melancholy and occasionally menacing absurdity to the likes of Lewis Carroll and Shaun Tan, but its message is distinctly its own: what you imagine to be the end of the journey may be satisfying, but the adventure actually goes on as long as you keep riding down the road."

• Kirkus starred review: "Marvelously melancholic, earnest... Brilliantly enchanting."

• New York Times review: "An original and much-needed view of the complex world of middle-school friendships."

• Publishers Weekly starred review: "Andrews crafts a phantasmagoria of events that recall animation from Studio Ghibli and Cartoon Saloon...picaresque episodes and a dreamlike resolution conjure a giddy sensation, like staying up all night. "

• School Library Journal starred review: "For readers who want an escapist fantasy with a light touch. Hand this title to fans of whimsical or unpredictable adventures such as Neil Gaiman’s Fortunately, the Milk or Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time."

New Release: RIVERBOUND

RIVERBOUND by Melinda Beatty (Putnam Children’s, June 2019)

Only Fallow can see lies - a cunning so powerful that the King insists on keeping her in the palace, tasked with helping him flush out traitors.

When the King’s counselor, Lamia, tells Only of her plan to oust the King and put his daughter on the throne, Only is eager to help. Though Only’s cunning would be useful to any ruler, the Princess had promised to send Only home when she becomes Queen. But Only soon learns the truth is a complicated matter - especially when the fate of a country hangs in the balance. Now wound tight in a twisted plot, Only must set the record straight to stop the destruction of everything - and everyone - she holds dear.

The stunning finale of Melinda Beatty’s middle-grade duet is just as rich, imaginative, and full of adventure as the first installment.

Select praise for RIVERBOUND:

• Kirkus review: “A cozy yet surprisingly thought-provoking magical ordeal.”

• School Library Journal review: “Day-to-day details are fully imagined, and the young characters feel authentic as children thrust into an unexpected adventure. This is a story about othering; the mistreated Ordish people, of whom Lark is a member, are instantly recognizable due to their physical characteristics. Throughout the text, Only insists that Lark be seen and treated as a person. It is notable that a story in which children are mistreated, taken from their families, and considered a means to an end is written in a way that is appropriate for middle grade readers.”